Another Successful Run-in-the-Country

A year ago I published a brief piece about the Coburg Run-in-the-Country, a half marathon race that KAP Art helps support because our spouses are the race directors.. Well, it has come and gone once more and on reflection I have realized how much time and effort is put into making it successful. The race directors (Brad, Mark, Mike and Dave) spend months coordinating the event. There are all sorts of hoops they have to jump through, from applying for permits and arranging for online sign-up to processing all registrations, ordering t-shirts, medals, organizing and buying race food for aid stations and for the end of the race. This is only a small sampling of what they do to prepare for a successful race.

KAP art is responsible for the design and ordering of the t-shirts. We have kept the logo consistent from year to year, but do tweak it a little as a reflection of what has been a dominant theme in the world of news. This year we focused on the rise in gas prices by replacing the windmill with an oil well spouting oil. On the back we added a tag line…RUN! It’s cheaper than gas. The prior year we focused on the crazy weather and long season of rain (I think the rain has been worse this year). We added a raincloud to the logo and included a Bill Bowerman quote: “There is no such thing as bad weather, just soft people.” When the Olympic Trials were here we paid tribute to them. In the year of swine flu we added a pig with the runners.

Each year flyers or posters are also produced and displayed around town to bring attention to the half marathon. But outside of that and the website, the race relies on word of mouth to get runners. For example, this year Brad posted on his Facebook page an invitation for runners to sign up at a discounted rate following an evening training run at the Eugene Running Company and came away with entrants. Since that was successful, we will encourage the use of more social media next time. Perhaps a fan page with updates and a place for a two-way conversation. The use of Social Media Marketing is perfect for this event. It’s cheap and can reach a broad audience.

The race directors do all the hard work. What we do at KAP Art takes time, effort and planning but nothing compared to the heart and soul the race directors put into the race. Brad, Mark, Mike and Dave are not paid. All proceeds go to various non-profits or High School Athletic Teams, including but not limited to: Harrisburg Cross Country, Sheldon Dance Team, and South Eugene High School Cheer team. So all you runners out there make sure you say thank you to the race director of your next race. They deserve it.

Happy Running.